lese-majesty
Definition
- Noun:
- An offense against sovereign power: "lese-majesty" refers to the crime of violating the dignity or authority of a reigning monarch or sovereign state. It is a formal, legal term historically used in monarchies.
- A personal insult or affront to authority: In extended use, it can denote any act of disrespect or defiance toward a person or institution considered supreme or inviolable.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The noble was charged with lese-majesty for publicly denouncing the king. (A formal accusation of treason against the monarch.)
- Criticizing the president in such a manner was seen as an act of lese-majesty in that authoritarian regime. (A symbolic offense against supreme authority.)
Advanced Usage
"to commit lese-majesty": to perpetrate an act of treason or disrespect toward a sovereign.
- The historian argued that the satirical pamphlet constituted a clear case of lese-majesty. (The pamphlet was deemed a treasonous insult.)
"lese-majesty against the state": a modern extension referring to offenses against the state or its symbols.
- Burning the national flag was considered a form of lese-majesty against the state. (An act of symbolic rebellion.)
Variants and Related Words
Lèse-majesté (noun, French borrowing): the original French term, often used in English to denote the same concept.
- The diplomat's remarks were treated as lèse-majesté by the host country. (An insult to national dignity.)
Majesty (noun): sovereign power, dignity, or greatness.
- The queen's majesty was never questioned. (Her royal authority and grandeur.)
Synonyms
- Treason: the crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill or overthrow the sovereign.
- High treason: a severe form of treason against the monarch or state.
- Insult to authority: a less formal term for disrespect toward a ruler or institution.
Phrasal Verbs
- No common phrasal verbs directly derive from "lese-majesty," as it is a fixed noun phrase.
Related Idioms
"To touch the crown": to commit an act of lese-majesty by directly challenging the monarch's authority.
- Any attempt to limit the king's power was seen as touching the crown. (An act of treason.)
"To commit an offense against the throne": to commit lese-majesty.
- The poet was executed for committing an offense against the throne. (He was punished for treasonous writing.)